Wall or snap switch.



No. 825,084. PATBNTED JULY 3, 1906. P. SORENSEN. WALL OR SNAP SWITCH.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV.27, 1903.

WITNESS E5 IVNVENTOH vFf'er dorerzse 71/? A from/'5 Y3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' PETER SOBENSEN, OF BROOK-LYN, NEW YORK.

WALL OR SNAP- SWITCH.

support and in such position as to be notreadily accessible or operable, excepting through connecting-cords or other devices extending from their actuating parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and compact construction whereby the ordinary snap-switch of commerce may be employed as a part of the a paratus constituting a wall or ceiling .switc 1 of the general character above described.

My invention relates, primarily, to the construction of the supporting plate or frame of said switch, and is designed to provide means whereby a bearing may be furnished for a shaft extension forming a rearward exten- .sion of the stem or shaft of the rotary snap switch, thereby securing compactness and strength of construction, as well as cheapness and other advantages that will be apparent to those skilled in the art! My invention consists, further, in the combination, with the snap-switch and an operating shaft or stem mounted in the frame or plate to which the snap-switch is attached, of a universal coupling block or piece joining the shaft extension and the switch-stem, thus affording a compensation or adjustment for any warping or irregularity in the porcelain or other base to which the parts of the snap-switch are ordinarily secured and which might tend to bring the stem of the snapswitch out of alinement with the bearing in the supporting plate or frame which carries the shaft or extension operated by the depending cord or other device.

My invention consists, further, in the special combinations of devices and features of construction hereinafter more particularly described and then specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general side elevation and partial vertical section of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus at the end thereof, carrying the operating devices for the shaft extension.

- Specification of Letters-Patent.

Application filed November 27, 1903. Serial No. 182,714.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred formof universal coupling. Fig. {i is a side elevation and partial section of another form of coupling that might be employed. Fig. 5 1s a transverse section through the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation and partial section of another form of coupling, and Fig.- 7 a;

transverse section through the same.

2 is a sup ort plate, frame, or hanger of any suitable 'orm or configuration, provided with a right-angle flange or extension 2 of any suitable shape, or with other suitable means whereby it may be fastened to the,

face 3 offa wall, ceiling, or other support. One face of this support late, frame, or hanger 2 is adapted to receive and support the rotary snap-switch of any form, the porcelain or other insulating base of which latter is indicated by the numeral 4, while 5 indi-' cates the cover for closing the the usual operating stem or s raft of said switch, mounted, as usualin'the art, on the insulating-base v4. 7

As the construction of the switch itself forms no part of my invention, and as the same may be of any of the commercial forms of snap-switch present on the market, the dearts, and 6 I tails of the same are not illustrated in the accom anying drawings.

T e base 4 of the rotary switch is, as usual in the art, providedwith perforations adapted to receive screws, bolts, or other devices 7, b which it may be fastened to the face of the pfate 2 or other supporting device. My invention, however, is not confined to any special means for securing the snap-switch itself to the face of the plate 2,..The outer end of the snap-switch shaft is provided with the usual button 8, which may or may not be employed when the device is used for aceili'ngswitch and as convenience may dictate.

When such a button is used, however, and is attached to the shaft 6 by a screw-thread, it is'liable to become unscrewed and loosened when the shaft is turned by the operating IIO shaft 6.

fords a bearing for a shaft 6, constituting a shaft'extension of the shaft 6 of the rotary switch. If the rotary switch were specially constructed for use as a ceiling or wall switch in accordance with my invention, said shaft extension 6 might be one piece with the In order, however, that the orch-j nary snap-switch of commerce may be utilized in carrying out my invention, I prefer to make the shaft 6 as an independent piece and provide a suitable coupling for connecting the same with the stem 6. To provide for any want of alinement of the shaft 6 with the hearing which carries the shaft 6, and which may arise from irregularities in the position of the openin s in the base 41, by which the same isfastened to the plate 2, or from a warping or irregularity of shape in the base 4 itself, which frequently happens when the same is of porcelain, I provide a coupling, which may be of any desired form, adapted to compensate for want of alinement of the shaft 6 and the rearward extension 6. This preferred form of couplin as here illustrated, is composed 'of the blociis or pieces 11 11, one of which is suitably fastened to the inner end of the shaft 6 and the other to the inner end of the shaft 6. The inner faces of said blocks or pieces 11 are provided with transverse cuts, adapted to receive projecting ribs or flanges extending at right angles to one. another from opposite faces of a coupling plate 12, as clearly shown in the perspective view, Fig. 8. As will be seen, this coupling practically permits an adjustment laterally of one shaft with relation to the other in all v V switch, having a projection froinaa face there-.-

directions, and thus provides a compensation for any want of alinement of the stems or shafts 6 6 or their bearings.

.As will be understood, the ordinary snapswitch of commerce has its stem 6 provided on its inner end with a screw-thread, and the block 11 may be readily attached by simply tapiping' it with a corresponding screw-thread an then screwing it in position. The block 11 may be fastened to the shaft 6 in any desired manner.

Another form of coupling that may he sometimes employed is shown in Fig. 4. This consists simply of a sleeve 13, adapted to fit over the blocks 21 21". As shown in Fig. 6, the blocks 31 31 might be of' hexagonal form and the sleeve 13 of corresponding-shape. In the latter instance it is possible to employ the ordinary hexagonal nut of commerce as the blocks or pieces 31 31, the nut 31 being screwed directly on the inner end of the shaft 6.

- in for the shaft extension 6.

As will be seen, the base or projection 10 has an enlarged recess to receive the coupling parts beyond which it affords a shaft-bear- On the outside of said .base or projection 10 is mounted the operating-lever 14, which at itsinner end has: a sleeve or hub sleeved on the boss 10 scribed.

and adapted to turn concentrically with the switch to alternately open and close the elec- 4 tric circuit.

It will be understood that the support plate, frame, or hanger 2 is provided with openings adapted to register with the usual openings in theporcelain or other base 4,

through which the switch is wired to the circuits. to be controlled. These openings in the su port plate orframe 2 are provided with t e usual insulating thimbles or bushings, as indicated at 19, Fig. 2. Theratchet 17 is fastened to the shaft extension 6, as

clearly shown.

It will be olivious that by the above construction great strength and compactness is secured, while at the same time the switch may be readily wired throu h the rear of. the base-plate 4, as usual. .It Wil also be seenthat the parts of the rotary snap-switch itself are readily accessible for inspection and repair f without detaching the switch from its sup: port or disconnecting the cord-actuated devices.

VV'hat I claim as my invention 1s 1. A supporting-frame for a rotary strapof opposite thatwhich receives the base of the switch, said projection having a bearing for a rotary shaft forming an extension the;

switch-stem; I p

2. The combination witha-rotary switch and its base'ofinsulation, of a frame, means for securing said base to the frame, a rear- '4. The combination of a frame, a snap- 7 switch fastened to one face thereof, a shaftbearing at the opposite face-of the frame, a rotary shaft mounted therein and a. universal coupling for connectingthe shaft to the inuer end of the switch-stein.

- The combination. with the supportingframe and a snapswitch fastened to one face thereof, of a shaft-supporting projection ex tending from the opposite face thereof and a shaft mounted in said projection for operat ing the switch, as and for the purpose de-' eeaoea 6. The combination with the supportingframe and a snap-swit -h fastened to one face thereof. of an operating-shaft and a shaftsupporting projection extending from the opposite face of said frame and havin a recess for a coupling device joining the s aftand opposite face with a boss aifordinga hearing for a shaft passing through the boss and for an actuatinglever pivoted concentrically with said shaft.

9. The combination with the .frame 2, and a snap-switch secured to one face thereof, of an operating-shaft mounted to turn in a bearing on the face of 'said frame opposite that to which the snap-switch is secured, and an operating-lever mount-ed concentrically with said shaft upon a bearing formed on a rearwardlvextending boss of the frame.

10. The combination of a frame, a snapswitch having its insulatin -base secured to one face thereof, a rearwardly-extending projection from said frame, a shaft mounted therein and carrying a ratchet-wheel, a lever mounted concentrically with the shaft upon said rcarwardly-extending rejection, an actuating-pawl secured to said lever and a coupling connecting said shaft with the stem of the snap-switch.

1].. The combination of a support-plate, a snap-switch provided with a stem and having its insulating-base secured to one face thereof, a rearwardly-extending projection from said plate, a shaft mounted therein and carrying a ratchet-wheel, a lever mount-ed concentn'cally with the shaft upon said rearwardly-extending projection, an actuatingport- )1 ate awl secured to said lever, and a coupling a apted to provide universal lateral ad uStment 'of the shaft and stem with relation to one another.

1 12. The combination with a support plate and snap-switch secured to-one' face thereof, of an operating-shaft mounted in a hearing at the rear of said plate, a block secured to the inner end of the snap-switch stem and means fpr fcoupling said b ock with the operatings 1a t.

13. The combination with the sna -switch v and supportin -frame, of a shaft in me with the rear end 0 the switch-stem and mounted in a hearing at the opposite side of the supportin -frame, a bloc secured upon the innor en of the'switoh-stem, a block secured to the inner end of the shaft and a couplingsleeve for connecting said blocks. 14. The combination ofa frame, a snafswitch, an operating-shaft mounted on t e frame to wluch the snap-switch is attached, and a universal coupling block or piece joining said operating-shaft and the switeh-stem.

T 15. The combination with the frame, of the snagswitch, the operating-shaft mounted-on t e frame to wlnchthe snap-switch is attached, and a universal couplinggoining said operating-shaft and the umer en switch-stem.

16. The combination with the .centerrod of a snap-switch, and a slotted arm adjustablv secured thereto, of a rotatably-supp'ort ed head, having prongs which loosel' enter the slots of the arm on the center ro of'the switch and means for turning this head, whereby to operate the switch.

Signed at New York city, in the county of Witnesses 0. F. Trsonnnn, Jr.,

E. L. LAwLER.

of the V New York and State of New York, this 24th 

